Unclaimed Baggage: A Guide To The Lost Luggage Store

We recently took a road trip to Huntsville, Alabama and while there, we decided to explore Unclaimed Baggage. My kids were so excited to see what kind of odd things people leave behind in their suitcases.

In this guide to the only Unclaimed Baggage store, I’ll fill you in on everything you need to know when visiting. We will talk about how the store works, its location and hours, what they carry, and more.

What Is the Unclaimed Baggage Store

The Unclaimed Baggage Store is a unique retail destination that sells items from lost or unclaimed luggage.

Here’s how it typically works: when airlines and other transportation companies can’t reunite the rightful owners with their lost luggage, after an extensive three-month search the items end up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center. The store, located in Scottsboro, Alabama, then sorts, cleans and organizes these items for resale.

Visitors to the 50,000-square-foot thrift store can find a wide range of products, including clothing, wedding dresses, iPad pros, noise-canceling headphones, engagement rings, skateboards, ski gear, electronics, shoes, watches, diamond tennis bracelets, sunglasses, luggage, and more, all at discounted prices. Unclaimed Baggage says they sell items for up to 80% below the estimated retail price.

When we went we were amazed by the sheer number of kindles, ipads and cell phones that they had for sale. Some of these items seemed to be great prices but also looked kind of rough which could be easily covered with a case. Unclaimed Baggage does clear all personal data and restores electronics back to factory settings. The store also tests all of their electronice to make sure they all work.

It’s like a treasure hunt where you never know what you might discover. The store has gained popularity for its eclectic selection and the opportunity to find one-of-a-kind items. It’s a fascinating and budget-friendly shopping experience, attracting curious shoppers looking for unique deals and stories behind the items.

In 1995 Unclaimed Baggage opened a Found Treasures Museum in the store so you can see some of their most peculiar finds over the years. Some of the most shocking things are a suit of armor, a live rattlesnake, a camera from NASA’s space shuttle, real human shrunken heads, and more.

Unclaimed Baggage Fun Facts

• Less than .03% of all checked luggage remains truly orphaned or unclaimed.
• Unclaimed Baggage holds procurement agreements with every domestic airline and various travel and transportation companies for acquiring unclaimed items.
• Their laundry facility is the largest dry cleaner in Alabama.
• Unclaimed Baggage has partnerships with organizations that take leftover items and put them to good use.
• They opt to recycle anything that can be recycled instead of putting it in the landfill.
• Doyle Owens started Unclaimed Baggage in 1970.
• In 1978 Unclaimed Baggage gradually made contracts with all domestic airlines making it the country’s only lost luggage store.
• In 1995 they added a cafe and the Found Treasures Museum.
• Oprah featured Unclaimed Baggage Center as one of America’s “best-kept shopping secrets,” in 1995.

Planning Your Visit to Unclaimed Baggage

Unclaimed Baggage is located in Northeastern Alabama. The address is:

Unclaimed Baggage Center
509 W Willow St Scottsboro, AL 35768
United States

Phone Number: (256)-259-1525

Store Hours:
Monday-Friday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm CT
Saturday
8:00 am – 7:00 pm CT
CLOSED Sunday

Website: unclaimedbaggage.com

Sign up for their e-mails to get 20% off your first purchase!

Best Time To Visit Unclaimed Baggage

The best days to visit the Unclaimed Baggage store is during the week. They add 7,000 new items to the sales floor daily! This means that the store will be well stocked no matter what day you visit. However, weekends are their busiest days. If you are looking to avoid people, I highly recommend visiting during the week.

We visited on a weekday evening in January and there was maybe 5 other people there. The store is so massive that I hardly knew they were there.

Our Unclaimed Baggage Experience

I have to be honest, my kids were the ones who were most excited about this experience. They were excited to scour this unique store for interesting finds. While the kids weren’t necessarily looking to make a purchase but rather, hunt for some random & weird stuff.

Unfortunately, we didn’t really see anything that was quirky like social media influencers made it seem. Instead, we were met with what was a very large “Goodwill” type of store. While I did see some items in good condition for a great price, I felt that a lot of the items were overpriced for what they were. For example, they had a ton of Lululemon leggings which they were selling for around $20. That would be a great deal if they weren’t pilled and didn’t look old and worn. Anything with a name brand seemed to be marked down a lot but looked well-loved which made it not worth the price in my opinion. However, I must admit that my family doesn’t care for name brands so we aren’t willing to pay the extra money to have it. Maybe if we were hooked on name brands I might feel differently about their pricing.

Things To Do Near Unclaimed Baggage

• Stephen’s Gap Cave
• Space & Rocket Center
• Bethell Spring Falls
• Cathedral Caverns
• Little River Canyon National Preserve
• Desoto Falls

Final Thoughts

Unclaimed Baggage Center in North Alabama isn’t just a store- it’s a top tourist attraction in Scottsboro where lost bags and lost cargo find new homes.

If you genuinely love thrifting or have a love for luxury items then this is the store for you. They have a treasure trove of wonderful finds at discounted prices.

If you don’t love thrifting or getting luxury items for less, then I wouldn’t make a trip solely for Unclaimed Baggage. Maybe check out their online store instead.

We’d love to hear about your amazing finds and stories in the comment section below. Have questions or looking for specific tips? Feel free to ask – our community is here to help.

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